Chapter 1033 - 998: Disheartened and Despondent

Hua Zhuyue issued the Orchid Order, gathering the full strength of the sect to assist Pan Tianhua. There must be some sort of exchange of interests behind this.

Hua Zhuyue said, "Is everyone alright?"

Pan Tianhua, after sitting down, expressed his relief, "Thanks to all of you." He ordered the boat to set sail.

The pleasure boat drifted gently downstream along the Qinghuai River.

Uncle Nine said, "I heard Junior Brother Pan single-handedly rescued the person?"

Pan Tianhua said, "Just a rumor. Thanks to the timely intervention of the police, otherwise I wouldn’t have had the capability. If the police had been a step later, I’m afraid even I would’ve been stuck at the scene." He attributed the major credit to the police.

He Jingliang complimented, "Brother Pan is truly a hero."

Pan Tianhua said indifferently, "There’s no hero. I invited you all here today because of something very important. The true mastermind behind the assassination attempt on my son Weidong in Dongzhou and tonight’s hostage kidnapping is Tang Jingwei."

Uncle Nine angrily said, "Outrageous, he must have eaten bear’s heart and leopard’s gall to dare do this! This is not only disrespectful to you but an act of enmity against our entire Orchid Sect. Issue the Orchid Order to pursue Tang Jingwei!"

He Jingliang intended to nod in agreement but instinctively glanced at Hua Zhuyue before nodding. Hua Zhuyue raised his tea cup and said, "Uncle Nine, are you planning to personally chase down Tang Jingwei? Indeed, your old bones still have strength, quite admirable."

Uncle Nine’s expression became awkward. His previous statement overstepped his authority. In the room, only Hua Zhuyue had the right to issue the Orchid Order; the rest did not have this power.

Pan Tianhua said, "Sister Hua, rest assured. The feud between Tang Jingwei and me is my own matter and won’t involve the Orchid Sect."

Hua Zhuyue said, "We are all comrades. A comrade’s problem is our problem; otherwise, what value does the Orchid Sect hold? How can we gain trust from the brothers within the sect? I will request the Sect Leader to issue the Orchid Order, mobilizing the entire sect to trace Tang Jingwei’s whereabouts and inform all Jianghu comrades that anyone who shelters Tang Jingwei is an enemy of our entire Orchid Sect."

Pan Tianhua raised his tea cup solemnly, using tea in place of wine to thank Hua Zhuyue: "Thank you, Sister Hua, thank you, Sect Leader. In the future, I, Pan Tianhua, will not hesitate to go through fire and water for Orchid Sect!"

At this moment, Uncle Nine and He Jingliang suddenly realized. They also raised their tea cups and said, "We are willing to exhaust ourselves, to give our lives, and will not hesitate to go through fire and water for Orchid Sect."

Everything has two sides. Hua Zhuyue hadn’t expected that the crisis faced by Pan Tianhua would cause the internally threatened Orchid Sect, which had been at risk of splitting, to reunify. The previously worrying risk of internal division was now eliminated, something even Ji Buyao, the previous Sect Leader, could not have foreseen.

Qiao Rulong returned to his residence and saw the light still on in his grandfather’s room. It was nearing midnight, and the old man hadn’t gone to sleep, showing the great impact today’s events had on him.

Qiao Rulong hesitated for a moment but didn’t knock on his grandfather’s door. Just as he was about to go to his room, the door opened, and Elder Qiao came out, speaking as calmly as usual: "Back already?"

Qiao Rulong forced a smile and said, "Grandfather, I just returned. The matter has been resolved. I saw it was too late and didn’t want to disturb you."

Elder Qiao said, "I sleep late, haven’t gotten used to the damp weather here in Nanjiang, haven’t slept well these days, planning to return tomorrow."

Qiao Rulong said, "Grandfather, do you have something to tell me?"

Elder Qiao said meaningfully, "I thought you had something to say to me."

Elder Qiao turned back into the room. Qiao Rulong pursed his lips, mustered the courage, and followed in.

Elder Qiao sat in a wicker chair, took off his reading glasses, and quietly stared at Qiao Rulong.

Qiao Rulong couldn’t discern his grandfather’s mood from the deep gaze resembling the ocean, but he believed his grandfather must be disappointed in him.

Elder Qiao said, "How’s the child?"

"He’s fine, already out of danger. Qi Shuang is also fine..."

Elder Qiao said, "If one wants to accomplish great things, to achieve a career, one must not be overly emotional, as emotions easily cloud judgment. Oftentimes, emotions are equivalent to selfish thoughts. Those selflessly devoted won’t be troubled by such things."

Qiao Rulong lowered his head: "Grandfather, I was wrong!"

Elder Qiao smiled and said, "Where were you wrong?"

Qiao Rulong said, "I shouldn’t have let Qi Shuang and the others come back. But if someone hadn’t leaked these things, also..."

Elder Qiao interrupted him, "I had thought after your life-and-death ordeal last time you might have attained some insight. But now I find your state is not even as good as before. In this world, one cannot live without enemies. If you want to go far, you must have fewer enemies, especially unnecessary ones. Those who achieve great things are not constrained by small matters and can forsake certain grudges and emotions for a greater goal."

Qiao Rulong said, "Grandfather, I understand."

"It’s too late to understand now," Elder Qiao said, looking at Qiao Rulong with compassion.

Qiao Rulong’s heart sank. Is his grandfather planning to abandon him?

Elder Qiao said, "You helped Qi Shuang establish an investment company, driven by your emotions, wanting to compensate her, and also preparing a path for George’s future. I don’t blame you, but why did you let the Pan Family get involved? Is it because you lack capital? Or do you need their father-son duo to support you?"

Qiao Rulong’s forehead broke out in a cold sweat.

Elder Qiao said, "Zhao Feiyang indeed saved your life, but he’s a doctor by profession, it’s his duty to save you. Now it seems his reasons for saving you aren’t so straightforward. I’ve always thought you were smart, yet you foolishly got a company connected to you to invest and take control of Changxing Hospital. Did you think you could kill two birds with one stone, helping Zhao Feiyang while giving benefits to Qi Shuang and the Pan Family? When did you become so selfish? Do you think you can deceive the entire world?"

Qiao Rulong hung his head and said, "Grandfather, I failed to consider things thoroughly."

Elder Qiao said, "If it were merely a business action, it would be fine. But it seems that the Pan Family’s background isn’t clean. Their way of doing things is aggressive and predatory. I don’t know exactly what they’ve done, but no matter the intention, provoking someone in trouble is always an unwise act."

Fixing his deep gaze on Qiao Rulong, he asked, "Do you know what you should do now?"

Qiao Rulong said, "I will urge the police to quickly apprehend Tang Jingwei and get to the root of this matter."

Elder Qiao was filled with disappointment: "How is your health holding up?"

Qiao Rulong nodded, "I’m okay, nothing wrong."

"Why do I feel you look exhausted and weak? With your current health, you can’t possibly handle this workload."

Qiao Rulong’s heart sank, was Grandfather implying he should leave Hua Tou? He bit his lip, finally making a firm decision: "Grandfather, I will resign from Hua Tou immediately."

Elder Qiao asked, "What is your relationship with the Pan Family?"

Qiao Rulong shook his head, "I have no relationship with them at all."

Elder Qiao said, "We might be facing a storm shortly. When others are attacking you, you have two choices: either crush the opponent with absolute strength in the shortest time possible, or retreat early, out of their attack range before they strike."

Qiao Rulong said, "Grandfather, I’ve caused so much trouble for you."

Elder Qiao said, "In the end, you’re more like your mother."

Qiao Rulong felt as if needles were piercing his heart, the pride within him was being mercilessly torn down and trampled by his grandfather, yet he dared not refute.

Elder Qiao said, "Don’t blame your uncle for this matter, don’t let others’ schemes succeed. Take some medical leave first, observe how things unfold before making any decisions."

A glimmer of hope arose in Qiao Rulong’s heart, it seemed Grandfather hadn’t completely given up on him.

"By the way, do you have any connection with Jishi Medical Investment Co., Ltd.?"

"None!"

Elder Qiao said, "If you associate with darkness, you become tainted. Our family’s honor accumulated over many years would be lost. You and Qi Shuang’s mother and child should not interact for a while."

"What?" Qiao Rulong stared at his grandfather in astonishment, George is my son, he’s still in the hospital, does Grandfather not worry at all?

Elder Qiao didn’t want to repeat himself, he waved his hand, "I’m tired, go rest."

Qiao Rulong said good night to his grandfather and quietly left the room, carefully closing the door.

Elder Qiao put on his reading glasses, picked up his phone, opened the photo album, looking at the screen displaying the cute boy, his eyes moistened, he really wanted to visit this adorable child in the hospital, but he couldn’t.

Perhaps he was wrong, last time when his grandson met with trouble, he should have chosen to let go, he should never have placed the family’s honor on Rulong from the start.

Deep inside, Elder Qiao felt a kind of fatigue and helplessness; some things cannot be remedied by human effort. From the moment Yuanshan disappeared, the fate of the Qiao Family was already sealed.

Elder Qiao walked to the window, drew the curtains, outside was pitch black. The long night seemed to stretch endlessly, who knew when it would break into dawn, or if a new dawn would ever arrive?

Finally, it was dawn, someone knocked on the hull outside, Tang Jingwei opened his eyes. He limped out, choosing to let the boat drift downstream, planning to switch to a ship at the estuary to escape; he had started preparing for this route long ago.

Though his cousin had chosen to take the rap for him, Tang Jingwei knew that even if the police couldn’t convict him, Pan Tianhua would not spare him. His plan was meticulous, yet it still fell apart, luckily, he was still breathing, he still had a chance to counterattack.

Tang Jingwei pushed open the cabin door, outside, a heavy fog had descended, the milky white mist shrouded the river, someone stood on the deck.

Tang Jingwei was visibly shocked when he saw the figure, he turned to flee back into the cabin, only to be swept off his feet by a kick to his legs, falling heavily onto the deck with a thud.

Tang Jingwei was dazed from the fall. Before he could get up, a foot was already pressing down on his face.

Tang Jingwei’s face contorted under the pressure, he screamed, "Let go of me, let go of me!"

A bald, one-eyed man squatted down in front of him, grinning, "President Tang, quite bold, but your luck is still a bit lacking."